Jesus Baptism and Ours
Mat 3:13 Then Jesus arrived^ from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" 15 But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted^ Him.
16 And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, 17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."
The opening of the gospels introduce us to two main characters: John the Baptist, and Jesus. Luke tells us of the amazing birth stories of both John and Jesus. John is called into the ministry by God to preach repentance and baptism for the remission of sins. Jesus begins his ministry by coming to John to be baptized.
John the Baptist is a great man of God. He speaks with the authority of a prophet. His words are full of fire and zeal. His clothes and food are basic. He is a man of the wilderness and great outdoors. It appears that John the Baptist is homeless. Interestingly, Jesus, also later claims to be homeless, “Foxes have holes and birds have nests but the son of man has no place to lay his head.” Matt. 8:20.
The greatest man that ever walked the earth, was a homeless man. Just imagine. He who made heaven and earth left his home in heaven and walked among us without owning a place to lay his head. The one who owned it all, gave up all to come here and save us all.
Jesus and John the Baptist met in the water. John was busy preaching and baptizing those that responded, and Jesus came to him to be baptized. This is recorded in all the gospels, but different details are in each one. Matthew is the only one that tells us what John said when they met. “I have need to be baptized by you and do you come to me?” We do have more of what John the Baptist said as recorded in the gospel of John 1:29-36. There he tells us what the Baptizer said after he saw the Spirit come down upon Jesus. “Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.” Another interesting detail is found in Luke, who tells us that Jesus was praying as the Spirit came upon him right after his baptism. Luke 3:21-22.
We have what John the Baptist said, and we have what Jesus said, and we also have what the Father in heaven said: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
So, Jesus, the Son of God was baptized. Why? John didn’t think he needed it. Jesus states the reason for his baptism in these words: “for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Matt. 3:15. Jesus is the only person without sin, yet he still needed to be baptized. It has something to do with fulfilling all righteousness.
Just what did Jesus’ baptism mean? And how does that apply to us today?
As we study the Bible we can see at least 4 things that were accomplished at Jesus baptism.
1. Jesus entered his ministry with his baptism.
2. Jesus’ identity was revealed to John at his baptism.
3. Jesus identifies himself with us sinners in his baptism.
4. Jesus gives us an example to follow by his baptism.
Do you remember when you were baptized? I do. I was 12. I had gone to church all of my life. Elbert Henry was preaching for the Colbert Heights Church of Christ. It was a church of about this size. I had seen people baptized there through the years. I remember that it had been a while since anyone was baptized when I made my decision. I remember that I knew I was a sinner. I believed in Jesus as the Son of God. I knew that baptism was for remission of sins and that once you were old enough to be accountable, you would be lost unless you were baptized. I knew that if you died in your sins you would go to hell. I don’t remember loving Jesus so much as trusting in Him to save me. I wasn’t as excited about heaven as I was afraid of hell, but both played a major part in my decision. The one thing I am absolutely sure of, and am still so thankful for, is that God’s word laid it out so simply and clearly and I did exactly what it said with as much faith in the Lord as I could.
The death of Jesus on the cross and his burial in the tomb and his resurrection from the grave were reenacted there as I confessed Jesus as the Son of God before that congregation and Elbert Henry buried me in that water in Jesus Name, and raised me up to a new life in Christ. It was a wonderful day.
I’m convinced by the Word of God that the righteousness Jesus fulfilled in his baptism was not for himself, but for us.
Jesus was not a sinner like me. When Jesus came to be baptized, he didn’t need to do it for himself, we needed him to do it for us. Part of the righteousness Jesus fulfilled there was ours. 2 Cor 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Jesus, God become flesh, Word of God as a man, came to the waters of baptism in his righteousness to reach down and touch the place where sinners could reach up to touch the forgiveness of God and receive his righteousness there. Like John, we meet Jesus in the water. There in the waters of baptism, all our sins are washed away from us by his blood. Acts 22:16 There in the waters of baptism, we enter into the death of Jesus and are raised up into his life. Romans 6:2-4. There in the waters of baptism, God removes our old self and clothes us with Christ. Gal. 3:27-28. There in the waters of baptism, we make a pledge and appeal to God for a clean conscience and he saves us. 1 Peter 3:21. There in the waters of baptism we receive remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38. There in the waters of baptism we experience the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Listen to Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Jesus paid for our sins on the Cross, there he died for you and me. His body was buried in the tomb. But Jesus rose from the grave. This is the center piece of God’s work of salvation. Why then is baptism so important? Because it centers on the very heart of God’s work of salvation. It stands at the heart of the gospel message and proclaims its grace. Baptism is not an optional ceremony for those who believe in Jesus. Baptism is reenactment of Jesus death, burial and resurrection where the sinner meets the Savior and is cleansed of sin and filled with the Holy Spirit.
That’s why Jesus said, “Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely, I will be with you always, to the very end of the age. Matt. 28:19-20
That is why when Paul sums up the 7 central matters of Christian unity in Ephesians 4: 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Right up there with one Lord and one faith, the Word of God includes, one baptism.
Worksheet:
Jesus Baptism and Ours
Matthew 3:13-17
Two characters introduced in the beginning of all 4 gospels: John the Baptist and Jesus.
Both Jesus and John the Baptist appear to be ___________________.
(Matt. 8:20)
Jesus and John met in the ____________________.
When Jesus came to John for baptism:
What did John say?
What did Jesus say?
What did God say?
What is Jesus stated reason for being baptized? (Matt. 3:15)
What four things were accomplished at Jesus baptism:
1. _____________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________
What do you remember about your baptism?
How does Jesus’ baptism relate to our baptism?
(1 Cor. 5:21, Acts 22:16, Romans 6:2-4, Gal. 3:26-28, 1 Peter 3:21,
Acts 2:38, Titus 3:5-7)
How is our baptism related to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and how does this make baptism significant for us?
Among the seven essential matters of unity listed in Ephesians 4:3-6, are any of them optional for the Christian?
